Judge refuses Maxine Carr's bail application

The former teaching assistant of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman failed in her attempt to be freed from jail yesterday.

Maxine Carr will remain in Holloway Prison, north London after her application for bail pending trial was rejected. Ms Carr, 25, is accused of lying to police investigating the murders of the two 10-year-olds, who disappeared from the Cambridgeshire town of Soham on 4 August.

Last Tuesday her fiancé Ian Huntley, 28 – who is charged with the double murder and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice – was transferred from Rampton high- security hospital to Woodhill prison after he was deemed fit to stand trial.

Yesterday, Judge David Mellor heard Ms Carr's bail application in a closed session at Norwich Crown Court. Ms Carr, who is charged with perverting the course of justice, was not present. Last month, her solicitor Roy James said: "We are considering bail if a safe house can be provided."

Ms Carr has been in Holloway jail since 22 August.